Mediterranean countries plan joint military drills over Libya unrest

Nine Mediterranean countries belonging to the 5+5 defence initiative are planning joint military drills “to foil possible attacks using civilian and military planes seized from Libya.”

The claim was made by an unnamed Algerian military source to Istanbul media house World Bullettin, which focuses on Muslim nations and politics.

According to the source’s claim, made on Sunday, air forces of the 5+5 defense initiative, Libya excluded, will take part in the drills.

The 5+5 groups Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, France, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain.

According to the Algerian security source, the drills would be conducted in coordination with the United States navy in the Mediterranean. “They will mimic the use of civilian or military planes in carrying out attacks.”

The Office of the Prime Minister has not yet confirmed the validity of the claims and whether Malta is participating in the drill.

Libya’s neighbouring countries are on high alert, as fighting intensifies between rebels who have seized light military and training planes that belonged to the Libyan army.

The Moroccan army is reported to have put its artillery and rocket batteries on alert to counter any potential threats in this regard.

Moroccan media said the preparations came hard on the heels of warnings made by western intelligence agencies of the potential targeting of Moroccan cities by militant groups in the region.